- Select the option that corrects the subject-verb agreement error in this sentence:
"The team of researchers have published their findings in several academic journals."
Answer: The team of researchers has published their findings in academic journals.
The correct answer is A. 'Team' is a singular collective noun that requires the singular verb 'has,' not 'have.' The prepositional phrase 'of researchers' doesn't change the number of the subject. Choice B changes the meaning by making 'teams' plural. Choice C incorrectly uses 'were published' (passive voice) when active voice is needed. Choice D incorrectly combines 'are' with 'published' in an ungrammatical construction.
- Select the option that corrects the subject-verb agreement error in the following sentence:
"The news about the standardized test scores were disappointing to the entire school district."
Answer: The news about the standardized test scores was disappointing to the entire school district.
The correct answer is A. 'News' is always singular, even when it seems to refer to multiple items, so it requires the singular verb 'was,' not 'were.' Choice B incorrectly uses the plural 'are.' Choice C repeats the original error with 'were.' Choice D incorrectly uses the plural 'have been.'
- Which of the following sentences contains incorrect subject-verb agreement?
Answer: The class of graduating seniors have organized a memorable farewell celebration.
The correct answer is B. 'Class' is singular and requires the singular verb 'has,' not the plural 'have.' Choice A correctly uses 'has' with singular 'class.' Choice C correctly uses 'have' with plural 'classes.' Choice D correctly uses 'has' with 'each class.'
- Which of the following sentences demonstrates correct subject-verb agreement?
Answer: Not only the teacher but also the students were surprised by the test results.
The correct answer is D. In 'not only...but also' constructions, the verb agrees with the subject closest to it. Since 'students' is plural, 'were' is correct. Choice A incorrectly uses 'were' when the closer subject 'teacher' is singular. Choice B incorrectly uses 'was' when the closer subject 'students' is plural. Choice C incorrectly uses 'was' when the closer subject should govern the verb choice.
- Identify the sentence that contains a subject-verb agreement error.
Answer: All of the homework assignments has been graded and returned to students promptly.
The correct answer is A. 'All of the assignments' is plural and requires the plural verb 'have,' not the singular 'has.' Choice B correctly uses 'has' with singular 'assignment.' Choice C correctly uses 'have' with plural 'assignments.' Choice D correctly uses 'has' with singular 'each.'
- Identify the sentence with incorrect subject-verb agreement.
Answer: There is many factors contributing to student success in mathematics courses.
The correct answer is C. In 'there is/are' constructions, the verb must agree with the subject that follows—'factors' is plural, so it requires 'are,' not 'is.' Choice A correctly uses 'are' with the plural subject 'reasons.' Choice B correctly uses 'is' with the singular subject 'list.' Choice D correctly uses 'are' with the plural subject 'documents.'
- Which revision corrects the subject-verb agreement error in the following sentence?
"One of the most challenging aspects of teaching children are maintaining their attention."
Answer: One of the most challenging aspects of teaching children is maintaining their attention.
The correct answer is A. The subject 'One' is singular and requires the singular verb 'is,' not 'are.' The prepositional phrase 'of the most challenging aspects' doesn't affect the subject-verb agreement. Choices B, C, and D change the meaning by using different quantifiers that would require plural verbs, but they don't address the original sentence's structure.
- Which sentence contains an error in subject-verb agreement?
Answer: The faculty, as well as the administration, have endorsed the revised graduation requirements.
The correct answer is B. When the main subject 'faculty' is singular, intervening phrases like 'as well as' don't change the verb to plural. It should be 'has endorsed.' Choice A correctly uses 'supports' with singular 'faculty.' Choice C correctly uses 'is' with singular 'faculty.' Choice D correctly uses 'meets' with singular 'faculty.'
- Which revision fixes the subject-verb agreement problem in this sentence?
"The collection of books in the library's special archive are available for research purposes."
Answer: The collection of books in the library's special archive is available for research.
The correct answer is A. 'Collection' is singular and requires the singular verb 'is,' not 'are.' Choice B changes the meaning by making 'collections' plural. Choice C uses the past tense 'were' which changes the meaning and is still incorrect for a singular subject. Choice D creates an ungrammatical construction with 'have available.'
- Identify the sentence that contains a subject-verb agreement error.
Answer: Nobody among the staff members were informed about the policy changes beforehand.
The correct answer is C. 'Nobody' is singular and requires the singular verb 'was,' not the plural 'were.' Choice A correctly uses 'agrees' with the singular 'Everyone.' Choice B correctly uses 'is' with the singular 'Someone.' Choice D correctly uses 'may contact' with the singular 'Anyone.'
- Which sentence demonstrates correct subject-verb agreement?
Answer: The pair of scissors in the art supply closet needs to be sharpened before tomorrow's class.
The correct answer is B. 'Pair' is singular and takes a singular verb 'needs,' even though 'scissors' is plural. The focus is on the single pair, not the scissors themselves. Choice A incorrectly uses the plural 'need.' Choice C incorrectly uses singular 'needs' with plural 'pairs.' Choice D uses an awkward passive construction that changes the meaning.
- Identify the sentence with a subject-verb agreement error.
Answer: Fifty percent of the students has completed their college application essays successfully.
The correct answer is B. When a percentage is followed by 'of' plus a plural noun, the verb should be plural. It should be 'have completed,' not 'has completed.' Choice A correctly treats '$20' as a singular amount. Choice C correctly uses 'supports' because 'two-thirds of the faculty' can be treated as singular. Choice D correctly treats '15 minutes' as a singular time period.
- Which revision fixes the subject-verb agreement error in this sentence?
"The group of parent volunteers who helps with school events are meeting tonight."
Answer: The group of parent volunteers who help with school events is meeting tonight.
The correct answer is D. 'Group' is singular, so the main verb should be 'is meeting.' Additionally, 'who' refers to 'volunteers' (plural), so it should be 'help,' not 'helps.' Choice A fixes the relative clause but keeps the wrong main verb. Choice B keeps the wrong relative verb. Choice C changes the subject to plural but keeps the wrong relative verb.
- Choose the option that corrects the subject-verb agreement error:
"Ten minutes are not enough time to complete the comprehensive assessment."
Answer: Ten minutes is not enough time to complete the comprehensive assessment successfully.
The correct answer is A. When referring to a period of time as a single unit, use a singular verb. 'Ten minutes' as a duration takes 'is,' not 'are.' Choice B has a grammatical error with 'minute' instead of 'minutes.' Choice C changes the tense unnecessarily. Choice D creates an ungrammatical construction with 'have not enough time.'
- Which sentence contains correct subject-verb agreement?
Answer: Every student and teacher in the building was evacuated during the fire drill procedure.
The correct answer is B. When 'every' precedes compound subjects joined by 'and,' the verb remains singular ('was'). Choice A incorrectly uses the plural verb 'were' with 'every.' Choice C incorrectly uses the singular verb 'was' with the plural subjects 'students and teachers.' Choice D has multiple errors: 'Each' should be followed by singular nouns, and the subject-verb disagreement.
- Choose the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement.
Answer: The committee, which includes representatives from every department, meets monthly to discuss policies.
The correct answer is B. 'Committee' is singular and requires the singular verb 'meets.' The relative clause doesn't affect the main subject-verb agreement. Choice A incorrectly uses the plural 'meet' with singular 'committee.' Choice C incorrectly uses singular 'includes' and 'meets' with plural 'committees.' Choice D incorrectly uses plural 'include' in the relative clause with singular 'which.'
- Choose the sentence with correct subject-verb agreement.
Answer: Neither the curriculum coordinator nor the department heads have reviewed the new standards.
The correct answer is B. In 'neither/nor' constructions, the verb agrees with the subject closest to it. Since 'department heads' is plural, the verb should be 'have.' Choice A incorrectly uses the singular 'has.' Choice C incorrectly uses 'have' when the closer subject 'coordinator' is singular. Choice D uses an incorrect passive construction 'were reviewed.'
- Which revision corrects the subject-verb agreement error in this sentence?
"Either the principal or the vice principals is responsible for handling disciplinary matters."
Answer: Either the principal or the vice principals are responsible for handling disciplinary matters.
The correct answer is A. In 'either/or' constructions, the verb agrees with the subject nearer to it. Since 'vice principals' is plural, the verb should be 'are.' Choice B changes the meaning by making 'vice principal' singular. Choice C makes both subjects plural but uses the wrong verb. Choice D has incorrect verb agreement for the construction.
- Select the sentence that contains a subject-verb agreement error.
Answer: The series of professional development sessions have been very well received.
The correct answer is B. 'Series' can be singular or plural, but here it's singular (indicated by 'The series'), so it should take 'has been,' not 'have been.' Choice A correctly uses 'begins' with singular 'series.' Choice C correctly uses 'covers' with singular 'series.' Choice D correctly uses 'provides' with singular 'series.'
- Which of the following sentences contains a subject-verb agreement error?
Answer: Each of the participants have completed their registration forms successfully.
The correct answer is C. 'Each' is a singular pronoun that requires the singular verb 'has,' not the plural verb 'have.' Choice A correctly uses 'has' with the singular collective noun 'committee.' Choice B correctly follows the neither/nor rule where the verb agrees with the closer subject 'teacher' (were). Choice D correctly uses 'is' with the singular subject 'group.'
